Are Cold Sino–American Relations Solely Trump’s Fault?

Trump leads America in an era of poor relations with China, but have relations with China ever been good? Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been rightfully criticized by many Americans. American prestige and credibility has taken an extraordinary nosedive since Trump came into office. There is, however, one relationship Trump has perhaps taken unjustified criticism […]

The New Yellow Peril? — Anti-Chinese Sentiment in the West

On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) a pandemic. Since the outbreak began in December 2019 in China’s Wuhan city, the number of reported cases has increased daily, so it’s no wonder that people are bombarded with news about it every day. While recent news about COVID-19’s mortality […]

Modern Maoism Prevails: Xi Jinping and the Use of “Red Memory”

In recent years, worldwide authoritarianism has been exposed to a new sort of “nostalgic nationalism,” where leaders increasingly rely on extreme loyalism and patriotic sentiment to promote an agenda. Within this genre of civic manipulation is a concerning phenomenon: heads of state reverting to tactics of bygone eras and rose-tinted propaganda to fuel support and […]

“OK Boomer” is the Pepe of 2020. Here’s Why.

The ubiquity of the term “OK Boomer” comes at a time of heightened generational contempt within the Democratic electorate of the United States. Similar to Pepe the Frog’s influence on the 2016 elections, the phrase may impact outcomes in 2020 and have real implications for social and political structure.  Pepe the Frog demonstrated the influence […]

Green for Green: Big-Money Donations and Climate Policy

Climate change is real. The science is irrefutable. The Earth’s average surface temperature is increasing at an unprecedented rate—almost a full degree Celsius in the past thirty-five years alone. In contrast, when the Earth transitioned out of the last ice age, it took about ten thousand years for temperatures to rise by 4°C. The past […]

The US Presidential Nominating Process Needs to Change

Our nominating process for presidential candidates needs to change. Not just because of the Democratic Party’s blundering of the Iowa caucus—though it’s hard to deny that was a complete disaster and the caucus system should be reexamined—but because two states that no longer reflect the demographics of America maintain undue influence in the primary process.  […]

The Egypt–Ethiopian Nile Conflict: A Dam(n) Shame

In 2019, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize. Now, he might lead Ethiopia to war with Egypt over a dam.  The conflict started in 2009, when Ethiopia announced that it would construct the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, without prior consultation with Egypt or Sudan. The Blue […]

Why Washington Won’t Pass a Policy to Prevent Genocide

The Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 (S.1158) not only condemns genocide and acknowledges its threat to national and international security, but also establishes the United States’ responsibility for intervention and strengthens the “government’s capacity to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such crises.” The original proposal established a response to genocide, but […]

4/20(20): Marijuana and Criminal Justice Reform’s Role in the 2020 Election

At first glance, marijuana legalization doesn’t seem like it should be a priority for voters in the upcoming election, especially when compared to issues such as the lack of accessible health care, the climate crisis, and rising gun violence. However, the legalization of marijuana directly relates to criminal justice reform.  The War on Drugs—an initiative […]

Brexit: Fissures within the Kingdom

On September 19, 2014, Prime Minister David Cameron and other world leaders expressed their relief and approval of Scotland’s decisive vote to remain in the United Kingdom (UK), but it would not take long for Scottish leaders and citizens to regret the results. In 2016, Cameron’s government asked the citizens of England, Wales, Scotland, and […]